3D photonic crystal intermediate reflectors for enhanced light-trapping in tandem solar cells

The concept of 3D photonic crystals embedded in tandem solar cells as intermediate reflective layers is investigated. Numerical as well as experimental results will be presented.

Fluorescent Concentrators for Photovoltaic Applications

Inverted-opal photonic crystals for ultra light-trapping in solar cells

We investigated a three dimensional inverted opal having the potential to notably increase light-trapping in solar cells. The 3D photonic crystal top layer is an angle- and direction-selective filter, which decreases the acceptance cone of the solar cell. Numerical optimisation methods are used to verify the optical and electrical properties for a large angluar and energy spectrum for a system consisting of an inverted opal on top of a thin crystalline silicon solar cell. It is numerically shown that an inverted opal grown in the Τ - Xdirection might fulfill the requirement for such a filter. An estimate for the theoretically achievable efficiency for nonconcentrated light is presented that…

Rear Side Diffractive Gratings for Silicon Wafer Solar Cells

Three-dimensional photonic crystal intermediate reflectors for enhanced light-trapping in tandem solar cells

A three-dimensional photonic crystal intermediate reflector for enhanced light trapping in tandem solar cells is presented. The intermediate reflector consists of a transparent and conductive ZnO:Al inverted opal sandwiched in between the top amorphous silicon and bottom microcrystalline silicon cell.

Photonic crystal intermediate reflector in micromorph tandem solar cells

Experimental and numerical evidences are presented which show that the efficiency of silicon based tandem solar-cells can be increased by incorporating a three-dimensional photonic crystal as an intermediate reflector.

Theoretical and experimental analysis of photonic structures for fluorescent concentrators with increased efficiencies

In this study we present a theoretical and experimental analy- sis of the application of photonic band stop filters on top of photovoltaic fluorescent concentrators in order to increase the photon collection efficiency. The light guiding effect of the fluorescent concentrator relies on total internal reflection. The escape cone of total internal reflection is their major loss mechanism. Our ray tracing simulation allows to calculate the beneficial effect of photonic band stop reflection filters, which reduce these losses, and to simulate the angular distribu- tion of the light trapped in the concentrator. We present simula- tions of the optical properties of 1D and 3D photonic structures an…